Free the General

In light of the Charleston church shooting this past June, the Confederate battle flag has become a target of politicians and activists because shooter Dylann Roof had one on his car license plate and posted a Facebook photo of himself with the flag before his murderous rampage. In a ridiculous knee-jerk move, Warner Brothers has subsequently dropped licensing of all "Dukes of Hazzard" merchandise featuring the famous General Lee 1969 Dodge Charger, because of the rebel flag painted on its roof. Pro golfer Bubba Watson, who owns one of the cars used on the TV show, plans to paint over the flag. The market for Dukes DVDs and diecast cars on eBay has gone crazy. Various stores are banning the sale of any kind of merchandise involving the flag, leading some to worry that it will be banned outright. Southern states are wringing their hands debating whether to remove flags, take down commemorative statues and possibly even rename certain parks and memorials to remove the overt Confederate connection. Overreaction much?

I can understand that it makes some people uncomfortable. Many things in modern culture make me uncomfortable as well, but most are protected under the U.S. Bill of Rights - especially the First Amendment guaranteeing freedom of speech and expression.

I absolutely do not condone what Roof did. I hope they put that bastard away for life. I do not condone the use of the flag by the Ku Klux Klan or any other racist group. I do not condone the concept of slavery in any form. My family's not even from the South and I don't own or fly the Confederate rebel flag.

But for God's sake, the Dukes of Hazzard never hurt anybody. Political correctness has gone too far and it's unfair to impugn a large chunk of the United States as ignorant rednecks or hateful bigots for having pride in their own heritage. History isn't always squeaky clean and it doesn't make painful things go away just because you take a flag down or paint over a symbol. Flying or displaying the flag does not make a person a racist any more than owning a white Ford Bronco makes you O.J. Simpson, or a religious Hindu displaying a swastika (a symbol of good fortune to Hindus) makes that person a Nazi.

Maybe things will calm down over time. Sometimes people need to just stop and think before they freak out in fear of being labeled something they're not.

That said, Disney/Pixar, don't sue me for borrowing your art style. Warner Brothers, get a life. Bubba, sell your car to someone who can appreciate it and buy yourself a regular Charger.

*gets down from soap box*

Oh hey, orange racecar with a face.